3:16

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

GOD SO LOVED

John 3:16-21

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.   19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."   

NIV

Well, here we are at the most famous verse in all the bible.  It is seen on a poster at just about every sporting event at some time or another. Of course just the chapter and verse are display, John 3:16. It must mean everyone knows it. Nevertheless, it is one of the most meaningful things Jesus says which changes everything for anyone who believes. This can be whoever, or as some translations say whosoever. Although there is discussion about other verses which speak of the elect, this verse indicates that the elect are whosoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have ever lasting life. It is a choice which ever person must make, to believe or not believe. It would seem it is not very smart to be among those who do not believe. At the risk of being an annihilationist that word perish has a horrible meaning. To perish according to the Greek word means to be fully destroyed. Whatever that means, we do not want to find out. We are counted among those who believe and thus we are among those who have eternal life. We will live forever in the presence of our Lord. It amazes us to see people who actually have decided to live in the darkness. Are their deeds that evil they cannot see ever being forgiving, or is it just they do not want to give up their dark deeds. We used to live in that city of darkness and sin. But the Light of Jesus penetrated our darkness, and we saw his Light. We were in deep despair because, although we did not want anything to do with God, we knew somehow deep within us, that to perish, to die forever was a scary thing. So when the beam of Light was shown into that dark city we lived in, we stepped out and crossed over into the city of Light and life. Our deeds were exposed and we repented and accepted the provision of God for our salvation.  He reconciled us to himself. He satisfied his need for justice, he fulfilled the law so we could have life, not death. Now we live in his Light and he shines his Light into our life, and we live at peace with God. We are his family, his children, his sons and daughters, his people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Praise God, we no longer have to be concerned about perishing, but we have eternal life because of Jesus. What is so amazing is that God loved us while we were still living in the darkness, in our sin, as a sinner, hating the light. He loved us so much he sent his Son to die the horrible death we condemned ourselves to, living in that darkness. He did that for us, and we are so grateful he got through our exterior shell and reached into our heart and opened it to his love. Thank you Jesus for all you have done for us. Thank you for loving us.